Claim OwnershipNavigating STL Schools: A Podcast
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This podcast is a Navigate STL Schools/navigatesstlschools.org platform to help families and community members have a better understanding of the educational landscape and opportunities in the city of St. Louis and surrounding communities. Our goal is to speak with subject matter experts and community members alike to understand the opportunities and challenges that face St. Louis families as they embark on K12 education. Navigate STL Schools hopes to give everyone the tools they need to navigate the complex educational system. We want the community to have all of the information that they need to advocate for their families, engage in active discussion, and make more informed decisions with regard to children’s educational future.
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“The library really exists for the community. So we want people to come and take advantage of our services. We want people to let us know if there's something that they think that we could be helping with that they need.” -Laura Polak Today’s guest is Laura Polak, the Early Literacy Coordinator at St. Louis County Library. Laura sat down with Staci to discuss the positive impact an early exposure to reading has on a child, what the library has to offer beyond books, and the community programs that SLCL has to help keep everyone engaged in reading at any age.
“You can’t survive in this economy with making $40,000, especially if you have children, a car note, rent, things of that nature.” -Jeffrey “Bo” Dean Today’s guest is Jeffrey “Bo” Dean, Assistant Principal and Founder at Starting 60’s Initiative. Jeffrey sat down with Staci to discuss the impact of technology and virtual learning, fighting for a living starting wage for teachers, and the role of educators beyond teaching.
“Kairos Academies’ mission is to empower students to direct their own lives and learning. That requires a different kind of school model. A school that allows students to make decisions for themselves, and to practice making decisions for themselves.” -Jack Krewson Today’s guest is Jack Krewson, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Kairos Academies. Jack sat down with Staci to discuss how Kairos Academies empowers students to make their own decisions, the difference between growth and proficiency scores, and instilling solid executive functioning skills in students.
“Mental health services are something that is very proactive. So, yes, you can come when you’re at your breaking point, but let’s prevent you from getting there.” -Dr. Kezia Jackson Today’s guest is Dr. Kezia Jackson, Founder and Licensed Psychologist at Healing Spaces Psychological Services. Dr. Jackson sat down with Staci to discuss the work Healing Spaces does, the importance of proactive mental health care for students, and the impact of social media in the mental health space.
“Blues for Kids felt like Navigate STL Schools was doing something that other organizations weren't…providing tangible resources for children and families in the Saint Louis area from the get go.” -Eva O’Shea Today’s guests are Eva O’Shea, Senior Manager of Community Management, and Devon Furash, Senior Coordinator of Community Development for Blues for Kids of the St. Louis Blues. They sat down with Staci to discuss Navigate STL Schools receiving their Captain’s Grant and the kid’s programs that Blues for Kids and the Blues offer.
In this special episode, we take a look back at some of the impactful insights from this season’s guests. We’ve covered everything from misconceptions of unhoused people, PNC’s Grow Up Great Program, the need for improving child literacy, helping students get to college, and much more. Listen again or get caught up to help you Navigate STL Schools and make informed choices for your children.
“STLDD is trying to make that roadway for families not so complicated and confusing. That there’s going to be someone there with them along the way to open doors and guide them in their journey and maybe even hand off to the next person.” -Nate Head Today’s guest is Nate Head, the Director of Agency and Community Relations for the St. Louis Office of Developmental Disability Resources. Nate sat down with Staci to discuss how Navigate STL Schools received a grant from them to create informational videos, and ways that STLDDR helps support families and individuals with developmental disabilities.
“College Bound is a great extracurricular, but it's also a commitment for our students.our goal is to make our students as comfortable and confident as they can be, as they matriculate to college and go on campuses.” -WyKeshia Atkins Today’s guests are College Bound’s WyKeshia Atkins, Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Kynidi Miller, Recruitment Coordinator. WyKeshia and Kynidi sat down with Staci to discuss the expansive services offered by College Bound, instilling confidence in students heading into college, and the impact of community throughout the process.
“School choice is not a problem when you have families that are paying for the schools…it is only weaponized when our middle and low class families are offered this choice…[STL Voices Academy is] bringing the benefits that affluent families have benefitted from for years now, and we’re bringing it, making it more accessible for all families, and now it’s a problem.”-Steward Stiles Today’s guest is Steward Stiles, the Associate Director of Student Recruitment and Family Partnership at STL Voices Academy of Media Arts. Steward sat down with Staci to discuss finding the right educational fit, the value our children have in STL’s education system, navigating restrictive legislation on the recruiting of students, and more.
“When we are playing with our kiddos, and we have those positive interactions with them, we’re building relationships in a situation that’s not so intense. So, when we are able to play in times of low stress, when stressors do come up, you can open up those communication lines.” ” -Jennifer Ilardi Today’s guest is Jennifer Ilardi, the founder of Simple Positive Play. Jennifer sat down with Staci to discuss the inspiration behind Simple Positive Play, how the community benefits from a playful space like this, and how play can prepare children for the classroom.
“For SLPS, not only are you not educating the kids in your stead, but you have the audacity and the deep level of racism to limit other people from educating the kids that you refuse to. You either refuse to or are unable to, but for decades you have not.” -Chester Asher Today’s guest is Chester Asher, Activist and leader at Coalition STL Kids. Chester sat down with Staci to discuss the dire need of improved reading scores in SLPS, how to create change within a large school system, and the need for accountability and goals in all of St. Louis school systems.
“How do we get to a place where our public school kids are getting as high of a quality education and as equitable an education as some of the students in private schools?” -Leslie Kohlmeyer Today’s guest is Leslie Kohlmeyer, Executive Director of Show Me KC Schools. Leslie sat down with Staci to discuss the Common App and its benefits to KC residents, focusing on logistics first when choosing a school, and ways for students to get the most out of their K-12 education before entering the workforce.
“In my class, we talk about standards. We talk about expectations on what you want for your life. And so being able to identify those things at 13 years old and knowing what you want for your future…is really eye opening.” -Nick McDowell Today’s guest is Nick McDowell, the Director of Graduate Support at Loyola Academy. Nick sat down with Staci to discuss the support Loyola Academy offers their students, encouraging parents to be more engaged with their child’s education, and helping students choose the right school for them.
“We've seen through numerous studies the significant return on investment that can come from having a really high quality early childhood education experience and that has become a really important cause to PNC.” -Sarah Bowman Today’s guest is Sarah Bowman, Vice President & Director of Client and Community Relations at PNC. Sarah sat down with Staci to discuss PNC’s Grow Up Great Program, collaborating with Sesame Street Workshop, and helping build a stronger local economy through investment in early childhood education.
“A lot of children, because they struggle with the mechanics of reading itself… it discourages them from even reading a chapter book or going beyond what they feel their own limitations are. So seeing yourself in a book…it gets them interested.” -Ymani Wince Today’s guest is Ymani Wince, Owner of The Noir Bookshop. Ymani sat down with Staci to discuss her love for books, the inspiration for opening her bookstore, book vending machines, and tips for encouraging children to get excited about literature.
“When I began to work with City Hope, it drove home that [unhoused people] are humans. That they had some challenges. That they are needing some support, some care, some love, and, most of all, to be treated with dignity” -Mike Willis Today’s guests are City Hope St. Louis’s CEO Pastor Mike Robinson and Director of Operations Mike Willis. Pastor Mike and Mike sit down with Staci to discuss common misconceptions for unhoused individuals, the struggles of acquiring identification, and helping unhoused youth continue their education.
“[Catholic education has] shifted more to that way of self control and using your abilities as a young student to go out and make change and have the discipline to worry about not just yourself, but others in your community.” -Julie Soffner Today’s guests are Julie Soffner, Executive Director of the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation and Emily Roth, Principal of St. Cecilia Catholic School. Julie and Emily sit down with Staci to discuss the benefits of a Catholic education, myths about faith based education, and helping families find a sense of belonging in their schooling.
“Lots of schools offer lots of things for all children, but you really just need to focus on, like, what can this school do for my child? How can this school best serve my child to be better and fully independent?” -Samantha Montgomery Today’s guests are Samantha Montgomery, Director of Service Coordination for the St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources. Samantha sits down with Staci to discuss how she advocates for children with Developmental Disabilities and important advice for parents navigating the school system.
“Read to your kiddos, read to the neighbors kiddos, read to your nieces and your nephews, all of that.”-Lauren Campbell Today’s guest is Lauren Campbell, the Community Programming Coordinator at Ready Readers. Lauren sit down with Staci to discuss the importance of early childhood literacy, tips for parents to help boost their kiddo’s literacy skills, and the book desert of St. Louis.
“Know yourself and strive to live in line with the truth, because now, with social media, you’re following everybody. Be a leader, you know what I'm saying? Don't be so caught up in what everybody else is doing.” -Tenelle Donta Today’s guests are Ryan Escobar and Tenelle Donta, the hosts of Souls of Liberty Podcast and Alumni of Metro High School in St. Louis. Ryan and Tenelle sit down with Staci to discuss the role of Alumni for Metro, advice for students in today’s day and age, and the pros of attending Metro.
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